The Patels Doing an Amazing Cultural Activity at the FACES Camp of Jacksonville!
To end off this summer on a high-note, we will be shedding light on a family that has help CISV immensely during the FACES Camp of Jacksonville — the Patels. Not only because the parents provided a captivating and interactive cultural activity for the kids attending FACES, but their younger children participated as campers, and volunteered as well!Shifting the Stage to the Patels:
If you don’t already know, FACES Camp is a free-program that provides an authentic first-hand experience of how CISV might be like to the youth while also reinforcing the bond between participants in the Jacksonville chapter. In this year of FACES, Rachana Patel and her daughter Nimisha Patel led a cultural activity focused on traditional Indian customs.
The Patels taught the campers how to play Satoliya — a game where 2 teams try to knock over a stack of 7 flat rock. The campers also learned how to do a traditional folk dance from Gujarat, India called Sanedo. What’s more is that Nimisha took charge in explaining the significance of these activities. In addition to facilitating the Indian cultural activity and volunteering at the local camp, Nimisha is a member of the JB Board and was elected as the co-Treasurer alongside Jai Raj.
Mrs. Patel is very proud of her daughter being able to take charge in a leadership position and to be comfortable connecting with her culture as a teenager. “Such a safe and welcoming environment is a true testament to the CISV vision of developing global citizens through intercultural friendship, cooperation, and understanding,” Rachana stated. The activity was also a wonderful experience for the kids as well, evident by them asking insightful questions about the activity, and them having a blast playing Satoliya and doing Sanedo.
Aside from Nimisha, the Patel family’s younger daughters, Aashka and Ishika Patel, attended FACES Camp as campers. Both of them had an amazing time; Aashaka remarked that she, “Really liked the variety of lunches that came everyday, and I also like the activities — my favorite being the immigration simulation.” Ishika responded that during FACES there was, “Never a dull moment. There was always something to do.”
Strengthening Bonds
Hopefully this little article truly conveys how much gratitude we have towards the Patel family. This summer spotlight should serve as a benchmark for what’s to come. Not in the sense that every family should be participating as vehemently as the Patels, but in the sense that every family should have the same strong bond and connection with CISV; being able to share their culture and values to society without the fear of negativity. CISV isn’t about oppressing others for their different backgrounds and cultures, it is about accepting and praising each other for those exact differences.Hope to see you all in the next one!
Written by Julian Henson
JB Board External Communications